Drainage system.



C. WALKER.' DRAINAGE ssTBM. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13, 1911.

1,003,436?. Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

.. f l Lygui,

L36 lf c. WALKER. l DRAINAGE SYSTEM. APPLIQKIOVN FILED PEBJS, 1911.

1,003,307. Patented sept. 12,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Langner.

'"UNITED STATES PATENT onirica.y

CHARLES WALKER, or KNoXvILLE,.TENNEssEE. f

DRAINAGE sYs'rEivr.

@To all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that l, CHARLES WTALKER, a

indrainage systems for. water service pipes4 and it proposes a system of the general nature disclosed in. my U. S. Patent, f No.

995,930 of June 20, 1911, and wherein the operation of the drain valvefis siiected automatically and automatically controls the operation of other parts to be-particularly set forth.

The primary object of the invention is to improve av drainage system of the general type referred to by providing for an interf dependent. relation betweenthe .main drain valve and a valve which, z'neraha, has the function ofl anl auxiliary drain valve and immediately controls the drainage vof the stand.; boiler and its appurtenant piping.

A. further object of the .invention is to provide improved meansfor operating-the drain vvalve toward the endof certainty and quickness of action. f

A further object. of theinventionfis to provide as an adjunct of a system of the general character referred to, a device which is -interd'ependently related to the main drain valve and is in the nature of a signal to indicate the condition of thewater back, z'. e., whether'the latter contains water or hasfbeen drained.

Other objects willappear as the description proceeds.` i

An embodimentI of the invention is shown inftheaccompanying drawings whereinis a sectional view of a detail of the drain .150

valveoperating means; and Fig. G'is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified or alternative lconstruction of valve for controlling the drainage of the boiler.

t:Similarcharacters of reference designate Corresponding parts throughout the several views. lv

y Specification of Letters Patent. Patentedsept. y12, 1911. Application ined February 13, 1911. e

Serial N0. 608,434.

form desired, the drawings containing a cfonventional view of the drain valve4 which forms the subject of my priorv Patent No. 965,772. The service pipe is shown'at'2 and The cold water section of the house system (not shown) is of course 'connected tothe pipe 3 at. any suitably -located point,l e. g.

prise a'pipe which is interposed between the pipe 3 and they lower head of the boiler, a pipe 6 which .leads from the lower head of the boiler to the water back v.7 and a pipe `8 which leads from the .water back and through which hot water. isreturned-to the boiler.' .The connection 62" connects the` pipe -6 with a pipe 6() which leads to ythe drain byV the numegl 4t and. its .connections comcasing 11 and the boiler, and is arranged eX- teriorly of the latter. 4The valve l10 yincludes also a valve plug of the type-shown in Fig. 2 and having-its body portion fash- 141 and 15 which are arranged lat right angles to one another, .the sector 14 controlling the communication of thecasing 11 and the opening` 12, and the sector 15 controlthe? pipe 13. The valve body thusconstructed is provided with astemv 1G which pro-jects through the wouter head of lthe `casing 11 and'is suitably packed. vand-which 6 are threadedV into the lower `head ofthe boiler and are alined `witli"nip`ples,as 18 and 19, with each of 'which :a valve designated generallyby the nmnerl'alQO-is assocage 21 which is fixed to a nipple, a plate 22 The drain valve, as 1, may' oe of any the main distributing pipe is shown at.

in the manner shown'. inQmyl 'Patent No. 995,930 aforesaid The boiler is designated valve in the same manner. as the pipe 32 a pipe 13 'which is interposed between the ling` the communication of said casing and ioned toprovide conterminous valve sectors.

carries a `hand wheel 17 The pipes 5. and

ciated. ...The .valve 2O comjirises a skeleton 'exible, accordion-like bod of spun brass which isxe provided at of ycage, a 23 preferably from the plate 22, and valve plate 24 which is fixed to the lowj nd of the body 23,-closing the latter and-immediately c'o `trolling the `communication of the lcorresponding nipple with the boiler. The bodies 23 may contain a readily volatile Huid such as ethyl chlorid .or an expansive l'coil spring 25 or both, the function ofthe tluid or the spring being to tension the valve Vbody in such a manner as to assure of a reliable operation of the latter when certain pressure conditions exist. Normally the valve bodies will be held open by the combined force of the Ihydrostatic pressure andthe service ressure, but-when the latl vter component o this force srem oved, the

remaining component is Snotr suiicient to maintain the valve bodies 20 collapsed and they will therefore expand and through `lar "27 is effected by meansl of a torsion spring 28 which surrounds'thd` stem 26 and whichl has one end connected to said collar andthe other end vto any suitable stationary support. The collar 27 is provided with "a klaterally pro]ecting arm, as 29, which car- I'les near lts outer end a hammer block 30.

Thefstem 26 'is provided with av laterally f projectin Slot 32 -free en adjacent the hammer block 30. The automatic operation of the drain valve' isei'ected `by the'spring 28 which causes' 'initially a movement of the collar 27 relaarm 31which passes through a 1g. 5) inthe cllar 27 and has its tively' to the stem- 26 and subsequently va the completion of the initial movement re-4 =ferredto, the block 30 strikes the arm.31 5

movement of'said collarwith'said stem. At

with considerable force, the blow thus produced being suiiicient to start the turning movementof 4the drain valve even though there may be conditions of a naturefto prevent said turning movement were the spring 28' directly connected to thestem 26. The' arm29 is normally held in a position whereinthe block 30 is distant from the arm 31, the means for this purpose .comprising an g electromagnet 33 and its armature 34, the

latter being provided with a lug 35 which normally engages againstthe arm y29 and holds the latter in .thenormal positionafore# said. The circuit in which the electromag- 'net is included, is normally openat a thermostaticswitch `364 which includes a com-f pending pound bargl?, one wire of the circuit being l connected to a contact 38 and the other wire of said circuit being connected to said compound bar and leading from the latter to a contact'piece 39 which normally engages 7() a contact piece 40 provided on the arm 29. A wire extends from the latter to the magnet 33 and includes the battery or vother source of electric energy. The degree of temperature at which't e` the circuit may be determined by the regulation ofthe distance through which A4said bar may move, this regulation obviously deupon a relative adjustment 0f the bar, an the contact 38.- During ing operation the boiler is Adrained to the point of communication therewith of the pipe 13, the water thus drained from the boiler flowing through said pipe, through bar 37 isto close 75 the drain- 30 the valve casing 11, `the'pipe 8,-the water 35 back 7 and the pipe 6* to thepi e 60 which passes it to the drain valve'. f the plug,

of the valve lhappens to be-in a posltionI wherein the sector 14 closes the opening 12,

no movement ofsaid plug is. necessary to prcvide' for the'` partial draining of the.

011er and of the pipe 13l ythe man ner aforesaid, since said pipe 13 1s then in communication with the pipe 8 through the sector 15 closes the pipe 13, before the boiler can be drained a movement of the'valve plug sufficient tocause the sector`15 to uncover the pipe 13, must be effected: Such movement 1s effected by means of a torsion 'spring 41 which-surrounds the stem 16 and l has one end connected to the casing 11 and its other end connected with the handiwheelh 17. Assuming that 'it is desired to admit water into the boiler through the .opening 12, in such acasethe valve (plugwill be held inthe position shown an against the tension of the's'pring-41 by a'pivoted detent 42, the angular end of which engages a lug 43 which is providedon the hand wheel 17 Obviously when the detent42 is moved so as to disengage the lug 43 the s ring 41 ybecomes effective tcmove the v ve plug l so-as to cause the sector 14to close the opening 12 and to cause the sector 15 to uncover the pipc 13. 4Such movement of the valve plug is Alimited by a lug 44 which projects inwardl from the casing 11 and works in a sllot 4 5 ormed in the inner end'ofjthe valve p g in the construction shown in Fig. '-2 the valve lugV held at a proper position -in the casing 1 by the conventlpnal screw' and u 'In Fig. 6 amodied or alternative con- 1 struction of valve 10 is provided. Whereas Avalve casing. If, on theother handy the .et

nut `device 46 ordinarily employed en turning plugs, in the constructionshown in "Fig. 6 this device' is not employed. Instead,fthe

inner end lof the'casing 11 is permanently closed `as at 47 and the outer end of said.

' cable referably casingis closed -by a cap 48 between which andthe valve plug a' packing ring' 49 isV in'- terposed. The ring 49 is'held against the 'valve plu by screws 50 which are threaded throu h t e cap 48 and-which may be em` .ploye to regulate the tension of the valve plug so that its movement may be, on the one hand, without binding, and on the other.

As an adjunct of the system a device forV indicating the condition of the water back, z'. e., whether it contains or has been drained of water, may be employed and such device lpreferably comprises an arm which, by its position, gives the proper indication. This arm designated by the numeral'54, is preferably to be positioned over the range and is pivoted between its ends on a suitable support 55. As shown, the cable 51 is'connected to the lower end of the arm 54. The latter is preferably made in pivotedl sections, the pivot of which may also be the connection with the standard 55, and which are normally held in .extended relation by a spring, as 56. The object of thus making the arm 54 in sections is to enable the longer section of said arm to yield in case an obstruction, such as a utensil on the range, is encountered, and thus not to interfere with the full movement of the shorter and heavier 'sectlon of said arm which 1s necessary, 1n'

the Varrangement shown in order to permit the full movement of the drain valve.

It is thought that the operation will be readil apparent from the foregoing descriptlon. The thermostatic switch 37 is regulated to close the circuit described when the temperature has fallen to some deter-v mined loW degree.v In such a case, the compound bar 37, by virtueof its contracting action, moves through an extent .sufiicient forits engagement withythe Contact 38, at which time the circuit is completely closed and the magnet 33 is energized. Thereupon the armature 34 is moved toward the magnet and in such movement the lug 35 disengages the arrrjif Theruponthexspring 28, acting on the collai'` 27, causes an initial movement of'said arm at the inception ofy which the circuit referred to4 is broken at the connections 3 9 and 40 and at the completion of which the arm 31 is given. a violent blow by the hammer block 30, which blow is suliicient to start the turnin the plug of the valve 1. Suc movement be- 5 ing started, it is 'readily bontinued throughmovement of outlthe necessary extent 'by the spring 28, the

collar 27 and its a'djuncts, in such a case, constituting a positive. connection between said spring and the arm 31 which'is rigid on the valve stem 26. When the plug of the valve 1 has been turned to a position 4to interrupt thecommunication of the pipes 2 and 3 and to provide for the drainage of the building, such drainage will'be effected in the general manner described in my cosay, the pipes of the system .which are connected by suitable branches or leaders to the l pipe 3 will pass their contents into the latter andV from thence the water in the system will be passed to the drain valve. Simultaneously with theoperation of the drain. valve inthe manner set forth, those devices which are interdependently-related to said drain valve through the intermediary of the cable 51, `will be operated. Therefore, when the drain valve is operated, the valve 10 will also be opera-ted in the manner de- .75 pending application referred to, that is .to

scribed if the previous position of said valve happensr to be such as to make an operation' thereof necessary and at the same time the- `arm 54 will be moved from a vertical position to a horizontal or substantially horizontal position, the verticalposition of said arm indicating the normal circulation of: water from the water back and the horizontal position of said arm indicating the drainage of the water back.k Vhen the valve 1 isoperated obviously the service-pressure component of the force which is normally effective to collapse the bodies 23 is removed and thereupon said bodies are distendcd so as `to engage the valve plates 24 with the nipples 18 and 19 and thusinter'rupt the communication of said nipples and boiler and prevent ythe complete drainage of the boiler or, to be more exact, the drainage of' the boiler beyond the point of communication therewith of thepipe 13. Obviously when the valve 1 is restored-to its normal position, admitting water from the service main into the system, the bodies 23 will be collapsed in accordance with the explanation of theirvaction which has been already glven.

Having fully described my inventi0nI claim:

1. In a drainage system, in combination, a 'drain valve, a boiler, a valve providing for the admission of heated water to either the lower or the upper portion of the boiler, a pipe extending between the second named valve and the upper portion of the boiler to supply the latter, said pipe being connected to the drain valve through the second named valve, the latter being operative to provide for the drainage of the upper portion-of the boiler through said pipe, thermostatically controlled means providing for the .automatic operation of the drain valve, and operative connections between the drain lvalve and the second named valve.

be automatically actuated in itsldraining opyeration consequent to `'drain valve.

an operation of the 3. In ,a drainage system, in combination, a drain valve, a boiler, a valve providing for the yadmission of water to either the lower or the upper portion'of the boiler, a pipe vextending between the second named valve and the upper portion of the boiler to supply the latter, said pipe being'connected to the drain valve through said second 'named valve, the latter being operative to provide `for the drainage Aof the upper portion of the boiler through said pipe, a spring for causing thedraining operation of said second named valve, a detent to hold the second named valve against the tension of said spring and a connection-between the drain 4valve and said detentto cause the disengagement of the latter from said second named valve consequent to an operation of the drain valve.

` 4. In a drainage system, in combination, a drain valve, a boiler andv its water back, the latter being connected tothe drain valve,

' 'a device for indicating-whether the water back contains or is drained of water, and an operative connectionbetween the device and t-he drain valve. l

5. In a drainagesystem, in combination, a drain valve,- a boiler and its water back, the latter being connected to the drain valve,

van arm which by its -position indicates whether the water back contains or is drained of water, and a cable operatively connecting the armvto a movable part of the drain valve.

v(f3. In a drainage system, a drain valve includingja rotatable operating part, a hammer. block' arrangedto have an initial movement relative to the operating part and -a subsequent movementwith said part, a spring forv causing the movement of the hammer block, and releasable means normally holding vthe hammer block against the tension of fthe spring. I

including arotatable operating part, a hammer block arranged to havel an mitial movement relativel to the-operating part and a subsequent movement with said part, a spring for causing the ymovement of the hammer block,"and thermostatically controlled means for normally holding the hammer block against the tension of the spring and for releasing the hammer block when a certain temperature exists.

. 8. In a drainage system, a drain valveincluding a rotatable stem, a collar mountedv for rotation on the stem, the collar having an arm rigid therewith andv having also a slot, a hammer block provided on the arm, the valve stem having an arm rigid therewith and which projects through the slot, a torsion spring surrounding the stem and connected to the collar and also tof a sta-.-

tionary support, and means normally operative to hold the first named arm with its hammer block distant fromthe second named arm.

9. In a drainage system, a drain valve including a rotatable stem, a collar mounted for rotation on the stem, the 'collar having an arm' rigid therewith and yhaving also a slot, a hammer block provided on the arm, the valve stem having anarm rigid therewith and which yprojects through the slot, a torsion spring surrounding the stem and connected to the collar and also to a stationary support, an electromagnet, the armature of which normally engages the irst named arm to hold the latter with its hammer block distant from the second named arm, a circuit for the electromagnet, a Wire of the circuit being connectedA to the first named arm, a contact normally engaged by said first named arm and included in the circuit, and a normallylopen thermostatic circuit closer.

10. In a 4drainage system, a boiler, a pipe leading to the upper end` thereof and through which the, upper portion of the' boiler may be drained, a valve controlling said pipe, a pipe leading into the lower portion of the boiler and adapted to be drained, and a valve automatically operable Ato close said last named pipe and prevent drainage of the boiler therethrough when the service pressure 1s cut oil incident tov the draining operation.

11. In a drainage system,y house supply pipes and a boiler with which one of the house supply -pipes is in communication, a drain valve whereby all the house supply pipes may be drained, and a valve operable automatically when the service pressure is cut ott" incident to the drainingpoperation to close the pipe which communicates with the boiler.

12. In a drainage system, house supply pipes and a boiler with which one of the house supply pipes is in communication, a drain yvalve whereby all the house supply 'pipes 'may be drained, and a valve operable automatically when theservice pressure is be connected, the

out oil incident to the draining operation to close the pipe which communicates with the boiler, the valve comprising a cage iiXed adjacent the end of said pipe, a. flexible accordion-like body capable of contraction and distention and having an end fixed to the cage and a movable end, and a valve plate associated with the movable end and arranged to close said pipe when the accordion-like body is distended.

13. In a drainage system, in combination, a boiler, a water back, a supply pipe leading into the lower end of the boiler, asecond pipe extending from the lower end of the boiler to the water back, a return pipe from the water back, a valve interposed between the return pipe and the boiler, a pipe ex* tending from the valve todthe upper end of the boiler, a drain valve with which the supply pipe and the return pipe are adapted to be connected, the first named valve being constructed to admit water direct-ly into the boiler therefrom, or to the upper end of the boiler through the last-named pipe and also to provide for the drainage ofthe upper portion of the boiler and said last named pipe through said return pipe, and a pair of valves within the boiler for closing the pipes which communicate with the lowerv end of the boiler, the valves last named be ing automatically operable when the service pressure is out olf incident to the drainage operation.

14. In a drainage system, a boiler, a water back, a supply pipe'leading into the lower end of the boiler, a second pipe extending from the lower end of the boiler to the water back, a return pipe from the water back, a valve interposed between the return pipe and the boiler, a pipe eX- tending from the valve to the upper end of the boiler, a'drain valve with which the supply pipe and the return pipe are adapted to first named valve being constructed to admitwater direct-ly into the boiler therefrom, boiler through the last named pipe and also in combination,

to provide for the drainage of the upper portion of the boiler and said last namedv pipe through said-return pipe, and a pair of valves within the boiler for closing the pipes which communicate with the lower end of the boiler, the valves last named being automatically pressure is cut oli" incident to the drainage operation, and each comprising a .cage fixed laterally therefrom,

orto the upper end of theV operable when the service' .adjacent the end of a corresponding pipe, a

liexible accordion-like body capable yof coul traction and distention having an end fixedl to the cage, anda movable end, and a valve plate associated with the movable end and arranged to close said corresponding pipe when the accordion-like body is distended.

15. In a drainage system, a boiler, a water back, a return pipe from the water back, a drain valve, the return pipe being adapted for connection with the drain valve, a valve casing fitted in the boiler and projecting laterally therefrom, the return pipe being connected to the valve casing and the latter having an opening within the boiler, a second pipe exterior of the boiler and connecting the valve dasing and the upper part of the boiler and a turning plug in the. valve casing, the t1`1rning` plug being fashioned to provide a pair of conterminous valve sectors arranged at right angles to one another, one of the sectors controlling the opening and the other sector controlling the communication of the return pipe and vthe second pipe, the latter being drained through the return pipe. l

1G; In a drainage system, a boiler, a water back, a return pipe from the water back,a drain valve, the return pipe being adapted for connection with the drain valve, a valve easingl fitted in the boiler and projecting the return' pipe being connected to the valve casing and the latter having an opening within the boiler, `a second pipe exterior of the boiler and eqnnecting the valve casing and the upper part of the boiler, a turning plug in the val-ve casing, the turning plug being fashioned to provide a pair of conterminous valve sectors arranged at right angles to one an-I e It' other, onev of the sectors cont-rolling the opening and the other sector controlling the communication of the return pipe and the secondv pipe, the latter being drained through the return pipe, a packing washer inter-posed between the turning plug and the outer end for regulating against the turning plug.

In testimony whereof yI have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses. 4 CHARLES WALKER. Witnesses: v MARCUS A. PARKER, Panis A. HAYNES.

ice

of the valve casing, and means.-

the pressure of the washer 

